WATI Assistive Technology Assessment
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The W.A.T.I. Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative Assistive TAAechnology The WATI Assistive Technology Assessment is a process based, S systematic approach to providing a functional evaluation of the student’s need for assistive technology in his or her customary environment. (Please note: This is not a test protocol. There is no scoring involved.) S Steps Information Gathering DECISION MAKING E TRIAL USE The steps are supported by the following forms. Forms page S OVERALL PROCESS Directions/Procedure Guide ................................ 23 M INFORMATION GATHERING AT Consideration Guide ..................................... 25 Referral/Question Identification Guide ............. 27 E Student Information Guide ................................. 29 Environmental Observation Guide..................... 49 DECISION MAKING N AT Decision Making Guide ................................. 53 AT Checklist ......................................................... 54 TRIAL USE T AT Trial Use Guide .............................................. 56 AT Trial Use Summary........................................ 58 W.A.T.I. Assistive Technology Assessment Directions/Procedure Guide School District/Agency School Student Grade Team Members Date Completed Comments Gathering Information: Step 1: Team Members Gather Information Review existing information regarding child’s abilities, difficulties, environment, and tasks. If there is missing information, you will need to gather the information by completing formal tests, completing informal tests, and/or observing the child in various settings. The WATI Student Information Guide and Environmental Observation Guide are used to assist with gathering information. Remember, the team gathering this information should include parents, and if appropriate, the student. Step 2: Schedule Meeting Schedule a meeting with the team. Team includes: parents, student (if appropriate), service providers (e.g. spec. ed. teacher, general ed. teacher, SLP, OT, PT, administrator), and any others directly involved or with required knowledge and expertise. Decision Making: Step 3: Team Completes Problem Identification Portion of AT Planning Guide at the Meeting. (Choose someone to write all topics where everyone participating can see them.) The team should move quickly through: Listing the student’s abilities/difficulties related to tasks (5-10 minutes). Listing key aspects of the environment in which the student functions and the student’s location and positioning within the environment (5-10 minutes). Identifying the tasks the student needs to be able to do is important because the team cannot generate AT solutions until the tasks are identified (5-10 minutes). (Note: The emphasis in problem identification is identifying tasks the student needs to be able to do and the relationship of the student’s abilities/difficulties and characteristics of the environment of the child’s performance of the tasks.) WATI Assessment Package (2004) 23 Date Completed Comments Step 4: Prioritize the List of Tasks for Solution Review trial use. Make any Generation needed decisions about permanent Identify critical task for which the team will generate potential use. Plan for permanent use solutions. This may require a redefining or reframing of the original referral question, but is necessary so that you hone in on the most critical task Step 5: Solution Generation Brainstorm all possible solutions. Note: The specificity of the solutions will vary depending on the knowledge and experience of the team members; some teams may generate names of specific devices with features that will meet the child’s needs, other teams may simply talk about features that are important, e.g. “needs voice output,” “needs to be portable,” “needs few (or many) messages,” “needs input method other than hands,” etc. Teams may want to use specific resources to assist with solution generation. These resources include, but are not limited to: the AT Checklist, the ASNAT Manual, the Tool Box in Computer Resources for People with Disabilities, Closing the Gap Directory, and/or AT Consultant. Step 6: Solution Selection Discuss the solutions listed, thinking about which are most effective for the student. It may help to group solutions that can be implemented 1) immediately, 2) in the next few months, and 3) in the future. At this point list names of specific devices, hardware, software, etc. If the team does not know the names of devices, etc., use resources noted in Step 5 or schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable resource person (that is the part of the decision- making that should require the most time. Plan on 20-30 minutes here). Step 7: Implementation Plan Develop implementation plan (including trials with equipment) – being sure to assign specific names and dates, and determine meeting date to review progress (follow-up Plan). Reminder: Steps 3-7 occur in a meeting with all topics written where all participants can see them. Use a flip chart, board or overhead during the meeting, because visual memory is an important supplement to auditory memory. Following the meeting, ensure that someone transfers the information to paper for the child’s file for future reference. Trial Use: Step 8: Implement Planned Trials Step 9: Follow Up on Planned Date WATI Assessment Package (2004) 24 WATI Assessment Package (2004) (2004) Package Assessment WATI WATI Assistive Technology Consideration Guide Student’s Name School 1. What task is it that we want this student to do, that s/he is unable to do at a level that reflects his/her skills/abilities (writing, reading, communicating, seeing, hearing)? Document by checking each relevant task below. Please leave blank any tasks that are not relevant to the student’s IEP. 2. Is the student currently able to complete tasks with special strategies or accommodations? If yes, describe in Column A for each checked task. 3. Is there available assistive technology (either devices, tools, hardware, of software) that could be used to address this task? (If none are know, review WATI’s AT Checklist.) If any asssisitve technology tools are currently being used (or were tried in the past), describe in Column B. 4. Would the use of assistive technology help the student perform this skill more easily or efficiently, in the least restrictive environment, or perform successfully with less personal assistance? If yes, complete Column C. Task A. If currently completes task with B. If currently completes task with C. Describe new or additional special strategies/ accommodations, assistive technology tools, describe. assistive technology to be tried. describe. Motor Aspects of Writing Computer Access Composing Written Material Communication Reading 25 Learning/ Studying WATI Assessment Package (2004) Package Assessment WATI Task A. If currently completes task with B. If currently completes task with C. Describe new or additional Overview theAssessmentandPlanningProcess of special strategies/ assistive technology tools, assistive technology to be tried. accommodations, describe. describe. Math Recreation and Leisure Activities of Daily Living ADLs) Mobility Environmental Control Positioning and Seating Vision Hearing 5. Are there assistive technology services (more specific evaluation of need for assistive technology, adapting or modifying the assistive technology, technical assistance on its operation or use, or training of student, staff, or family) that this student needs? If yes, describe what will be provided, the initiation and duration. 26 Persons Present: Date: Referral/Question Identification Guide Student’s Name Date of Birth Age School Grade School Contact Person Phone Persons Completing Guide Date Parent(s) Name Phone Address Student’s Primary Language Family’s Primary Language Disability (Check all that apply.) Speech/Language Significant Developmental Delay Specific Learning Disability Cognitive Disability Other Health Impairment Hearing Impairment Traumatic Brain Injury Autism Vision Impairment Emotional/Behavioral Disability Orthopedic Impairment – Type Current Age Group Birth to Three Early Childhood Elementary Middle School Secondary Classroom Setting Regular Education Classroom Resource Room Self-contained Home Other Current Service Providers Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Speech Language Other(s) Medical Considerations (Check all that apply.) History of seizures Fatigues easily Has degenerative medical condition Has frequent pain Has multiple health problems Has frequent upper respiratory infections Has frequent ear infections Has digestive problems Has allergies to Currently taking medication for Other – Describe briefly Other Issues of Concern Assistive Technology Currently Used (Check all that apply.) WATI Assessment Package (2004) 27 None Low Tech Writing Aids Manual Communication Board Augmentative Communication System Low Tech Vision Aids Amplification System Environmental Control Unit/EADL Manual Wheelchair Power Wheelchair Computer – Type (platform) Voice Recognition Word Prediction Adaptive Input - Describe Adaptive Output - Describe Other Assistive Technology Tried Please describe any other assistive technology previously tried, length of trial, and outcome (how did it work or why didn’t it work.) Assistive Technology Number and Dates of Trial(s) Outcome Assistive Technology Number and Dates of Trial(s) Outcome Assistive Technology Number and Dates of Trial(s) Outcome REFERRAL QUESTION What task(s) does the student need to do that is currently